Merab Dvalishvili is the UFC’s new bantamweight champion, having savagely wrested the title from Sean O’Malley to close UFC 306, the first sports event held at the Las Vegas Sphere. Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili, a 33-year-old native of Tbilisi, Georgia, was awarded the title following his dominant victory over former bantamweight champion Sean “Suga” O’Malley. Dvalishvili devastated O’Malley, who had promised to take him down inside the first round, by unanimous decision in the five-round main event on Saturday night. Living up to his nickname, Dvalishvili mauled his opponent with relentless takedowns, cleverly using his shorter stature to avoid O’Malley’s trademark knockout punch.
O’Malley had successfully defended his belt against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March, but riding a 10-fight winning streak, Dvalishvili proved too much for him, extending his streak to 11 victories. “I feel like I’m in a dream,” Dvalishvili said in his post-fight interview. “I know O’Malley is good, but I made him look normal.” O’Malley, who chose not to appear at the post-fight press conference, tweeted: “Over promised, under delivered. Sorry. Love you guys.”
Earlier in the evening, similar excitement was generated when former champ Valentina Shevchenko reclaimed her women’s flyweight title from Alexa Grasso, who had taken it from her last March. Shevchenko, widely regarded as one of the best female fighters in MMA history, landed a career-best eight takedowns. After a controversial split draw last September, the UFC decided to give Shevchenko one more shot, and she made it count with a unanimous decision victory.
Elsewhere on the card, Diego Lopes inched closer to a title shot by leaving Brian Ortega a bloody mess after three rounds. The two had been scheduled to battle at UFC 303 before Ortega withdrew due to illness.
The Las Vegas Sphere provided a stunning backdrop for the event, enveloping fighters in dazzling high-tech visuals during the 10-bout event, branded as Riyadh Season Noche UFC for Mexican Independence Day. Despite the spectacle, UFC CEO Dana White’s $20 million production for the event drew criticism for distracting from the action in the Octagon. White has stated that the UFC will not return to the famous Vegas orb.
Additionally, White announced that UFC 309 would feature Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira, and Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16, where no $20 million videos will be necessary.
